42" Television | Buyers Guide
We have a large
range of 42" Televisions to choose from, however we don’t just sell 42" Televisions, we also sell a large range of additional sizes from ultra
compact sets for the kitchen or bedroom to large 100 inch plus TVs for
a home cinema. In addition we sell a wide range of TV accessories such
as TV stands, wall mounting brackets and cables. To help you select the
model that’s right for you we have prepared a short guide.
Widescreen / Hi Definition / HD Ready TV’s
Virtually all TVs
sold today are widescreen and HD ready. Our buying advice is simple;
ensure you buy a wide-screen, HD ready TV with a digital turner.
- Widescreen: Old
style TVs had a screen aspect ratio of 4:3 (this number represents 4
units of width for every 3 units of height). Nearly all TV’s sold
today conform to a wide-screen ratio of 16:9 making them wider than the
traditional squared-off TV sets. In the UK the majority of TV
programmes are broadcast in a 16:9 aspect ratio making them suitable
for wide-screen TV viewing
- High Definition: Hi
definition TV’s can display up to five times as much image detail as a
standard definition televisions. The higher resolution pictures provide
a better picture and viewing experience. However to view a Hi
Definition film or TV program on your new Hi Definition TV you will
require a Hi Definition source such as a Blu-Ray Player for films or a
Hi Definition satellite or cable receiver to view HD TV programs. If
you don’t have a high definition source don’t worry, Hi Definition TVs
will happily play Standard Definition TV programmes and films.
- HD Ready: HD
Ready TVs indicate that they can display Hi Definition pictures. The
vast majority of TVs sold today are Hi Definition HD Ready. For more
information: http://www.hdready.org.uk/
- Digital Turner: A
digital turner will enable your TV to receive terrestrial TV programmes
after the digital switchover without the need for an external digital
box. For more information: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk
Size and location
The
size and location of your new TV may be limited by space, the design of
your room, your personal preference or the viewing distance. To get
the most from your TV viewing experience we would recommend a viewing
distance of between 1.5 to 4 times the screen size; although this isn’t
always practical and may also depend on your eyesight and personal
preferences. The table below provides a rough guide.
|
TV screen size |
Approximate Min Viewing Distance (feet) |
Approximate Max Viewing Distance (feet) |
|
19 |
2.0 |
6.5 |
|
20 |
2.5 |
7.0 |
|
24 |
3.0 |
8.0 |
|
26 |
3.5 |
9.0 |
|
30 |
3.8 |
10.0 |
|
34 |
4.0 |
12.0 |
|
42 |
5.5 |
14.0 |
|
47 |
6.0 |
15.0 |
|
50 |
6.5 |
17.0 |
|
55 |
7.0 |
19.0 |
|
60 |
7.5 |
20.0 |
|
65 |
8.0 |
22.0 |
The
visible screen size (which is the standard by which all televisions are
measured) is measured diagonally from one corner of the screen to the
other. Slight differences may occur in screen measurements between
different styles of television.
When
deciding on the location for your new TV it is worth remembering that
modern slimline TVs don’t necessarily have to be resigned to the corner
of your room, they can now be wall mounted or incorporated into the
design of your room and furniture. You may like to take a look at wall
mounting bracket and TV stands in our Accessories section.
TV Type
There are five types of television: CRT, LCD, LED, Plasma and Rear Projection. These are explained below.
- Traditional CRT TV: The old style CRT (cathode ray tube) TV’s are bulky and heavy are virtually extinct. We wouldn’t recommend that you purchase a CRT TV.
- LCD TV: These
work by shining light through a panel made up of tiny liquid crystal
cells and are much lighter are slimmer than traditional CRT
televisions. These are the most popular TVs sold today.
- LED TV: The newest technology are similar to LCD TV butuse
LED lighting rather than the bulker fluorescent lighting used in LCD
TV’s. This enables LED to be even slimmer and lighter in design and
typically more energy efficient.
- Plasma TV: Plasmas
are constructed using thousands of tiny gas chambers; when these are
energized they emit light to produce a picture. Plasma TVs typically
produce richer blacks than LCD TV so are perfect for watching the
latest hollywood blockbuster.
- Rear Projection TV: The
image on a rear-projection TV is created by projecting and reflecting
it onto the screen from behind. Rear projection TVs tend to be much
larger and bulkier than LCD, LED or Plasma TVs and are less common. We
wouldn't recommend that you purchase a Rear Projection TV.
LCD,
Plasma and LED TV’s all have their pros and cons. If you just require
a TV for general viewing and the occasional DVD or HD film we would
suggest you consider an LCD or LED TV. If you are a cinema buff and
want the very best platform to watch movies we would suggest a plasma
TV.
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